The semifinalists are set in the Northeastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League.
The Wainwright Bisons and Killam Wheat Kings each recorded quarter-final sweeps to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
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Those two teams join the pennant-winning Lloydminster Bandits and the runner-up Vermilion Tigers in the semifinals. Both the Bandits and Tigers received first-round byes.
After blanking the Cold Lake Ice 3-0 in that best-of-five quarter-final, Wainwright goes up against Vermilion in a battle of teams separated by just four points in the regular season.
Killam advanced with its 3-0 sweep of the higher-ranked St. Paul Canadiens. Now, the Wheat Kings face top-ranked Lloydminster, which finished a whopping 32 points ahead of Killam in regular-season play.
That best-of-seven semifinal begins this weekend at the Hub in Lloydminster, with games scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday.
The other best-of-seven series kicks off at Vermilion Stadium, as the Tigers host the Bisons at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.
Lloydminster earned first place with a 30-6 slate, finishing the regular season one point ahead of Vermilion (28-5-3) and five points in front of Wainwright (25-6-5). St. Paul placed fourth with a 16-18-2 record, while Killam and Cold Lake tied with 13-21-2 showings. The last-place Vegreville Rangers (1-35) didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
In quarter-final action Sunday, Killam edged St. Paul 4-3 on an overtime goal from Tanner Sheets, who tallied three times on the afternoon. Sheets netted seven points, including five goals, in the three-game series.
Cade Schatschneider scored the Wheat Kings’ other goal in their series-clinching victory.
Killam goaltender Ethan Edwards stopped 25 shots, while Boston Carter blocked 34 for St. Paul.
Kolby Miller, with two points, Liam Boyko and Jacob Labant tallied for the Canadiens.
The Wheat Kings earlier won 5-3 and 3-2.
Wainwright finished off Cold Lake with a 2-1 decision Saturday, after posting a 4-3 overtime victory, and a 4-0 shutout in the series-opener.
In the Game 3 clincher, Ryker Singer’s power-play goal early in the third period was the winner as the Bisons moved on to the next round. Tanner Werenka also scored for Wainwright, after Sam Sawchuk had given Cold Lake an early 1-0 lead.
Lochlan Jenner made 32 saves for the Bisons. Mark Peddle stopped 33 shots for the Ice.
Wainwright prevailed 4-0 in the opener and 4-3 in overtime in Game 2. Mason Ganser’s hat-trick performance included the OT winner.
Early this week, Killam forward Ethan Allen was named the league’s rookie of the year. Quinn Szpak of St. Paul was recognized for winning the scoring title, with 37 goals and 69 points in 32 games. Szpak finished three points ahead of Vermilion’s Cade Meiklejohn, who had 26 goals and 66 points in 40 games.
All four teams in the junior B semifinals are waiting on possible affiliate additions from the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers, whose qualification for their playoffs meant they would be otherwise busy for at least another week.
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